Early season indoor meets for girls

MOUNT VERNON– Solon’s Lady Spartans head for the great outdoors in the coming week as track moves from indoors into a chilly start for the outdoor season.
Cornell College in Mount Vernon hosted the WaMaC East division meet March 22, with the WaMaC West participants coming in on their heels in the afternoon for theirs. No scores were kept, with spring break reducing team lineups and practice availability. The meet format, though, provided competition for teams that have faced extended winter weather as the season gets underway.
“I thought most of our 400 runners looked good in the (two) 4x400 relays we ran,” said coach Brent Sands. Haley Bell, Emma Moss, Jordan Smith and Eva Platz teamed up for the A team with splits in the 1:04 to 1:08 range. A couple more 1:06-1:07 legs came in the B team heat with Madi Shafer, Alex Sands, Trisha Coberly and Molly Walkner carrying the baton. Times traditionally are slower indoors than outside, with extra turns and shorter straightaways required on the 200-meter track.
“Coberly ran well in her 4x4 and her (5:32) 1500. Walkner also looked good (2:37) in her open 800,” noted Sands. “I like how Emma Moss has been running. She ran real well at Wartburg (indoor meet earlier in the week), though, she fell on a hurdle Saturday. She should help us out in some relays, as well. Lorin Brokaw ran with more fire and pushed herself earlier in her (open and relay leg) 800s. In the long run, that will really help her.”
With no weather cooperation outside, most field events are a mystery. Still, Shelby Gunnells had a personal best shot put of 41’4.5 at Wartburg, a two-foot stretch past her runner-up finish at last year’s state meet. Freshman Bryce Hinkel had a personal best as well, placing with her toss of 32’9.
Jordan Smith racked up third place overall with her open 200 (28.41) at WaMaC. “From here, we need to get outside for some 100 and 200 meter work,” assessed Sands. “I’m waiting to see who might emerge as the other top performers there.”